Acupuncture is a Chinese medical system that has been used for thousands of years to treat both humans and animals.  In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that energy known as Qi (pronounced “Chi”), flows through channels, called meridians, to maintain balance within the body. Western practitioners best understand this as a neuro-hormonal system and flow.

 

When disease (“dis-ease”) occurs, specific meridians become blocked causing the body to slide into a weakened state where illness and pain result.  A “reflection” of internal problems on the external surface can be observed.

 

There are specific points along the meridians, called acupoints.  When precise acupoints are stimulated by a small needle, a signal is transmitted from that point, along the meridian, to the relevant organ or tissue.  With this stimulation endorphins, serotonin and inflammatory modulators are released allowing blood, Qi, and ultimately, balance to be restored to the area in need.

 

Acupuncture needles are well tolerated by most animals.  Weekly acupuncture treatments are recommended for the first three weeks, and then most patients will continue to benefit with less frequent sessions depending on when healing is initiated, when pain is relieved and ultimately, when balance is achieved.

 

Ideally, conventional Western medicine and integrative healing modalities, such as acupuncture, are used to compliment each other in that the strength of one modality compensates for the weakness in the other to create a harmonious healing system.